Terminal



'March- 18,1941. "RjKwmNmG 1,235,275

TERMINAL Filed April 22,1938

INVENTOR, Bosn a-r K.WINNING- ATTORNEYS Patented Mare 18, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT. FFICE Robert K. Winnl'n TERMINAL ,Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to -Clum Manufacturing Company, Milwaukee,

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application April 22, 1938, Serial No. 203,491 6 Claims. ((71.173-328) minals. It is the primary object 'of the invention to provide a novel and simple terminal useful particularly for switches'and the like to provide integrally a contact and the barrel portion of a This invention relates to improvements interterminal clip. It is a further object of the invention to provide a terminal which vcanbe assem-v bled inexpensively and with great facility, and one which will project at right angles to the terminal head and will provide for the semi-positive retention of a cable anchored thereto, and

tion is applied, one conductor being shown applied to a terminal on the back of the switch and another conductor being shown in the proximity of' the terminal receptacle.

Figure 2 is anenlarged detail view of my improved terminal in axial section. V

Figure 3 is a still further enlarged detail view taken in transverse section in the plane indicated at 33 in Fig, 2.

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective showing the contact spring which I preferably employ in the jack or receptacle portion of my improved terminal.

Figure 5 is a view similar modified embodiment of the Figure 6 is a view taken in indicated at 66 in Fig. 5. Like parts are identified by the same reference characters throughout the several views.

The casing shown at I may, as above indicated, be understood to constitute the casing of a switch such as is used for control. This switch has a cluding the separate plies 8 to Fig. 2 showing a invention. section in the plane and 9 upon which are mounted the terminals to which this inven tion pertains. While onespeciflc form ofv the invention illustrated has particular utility where'a used, it is not to bev multi-ply terminal head is understood to be limited either to the particular construction'disclosed or to use ticular style of terminal head;

My improved terminal is made from tubular stock and includes integrally a barrel l constricted to provide a shoulder at H and a rivet portion i2 which extends through the relatively small aperture in the ply 9 of the terminal head.

' shown) of the switch, and may be omitted where spring has slightly less width than the diameter automotive lighting terminal head in-.

with this parcontact with spring!!! along at least three seping to permit the plug to from the jack receptacle The end of the rivet portion-l2 of the terminal is 'spun outwardly and turned back upon itself as-shown at ii to provide a contact, the terminal head ply 8 having a relatively largeaperture at l6 to receive this contact portion of the device. The extreme margin of thecontact portion of the device seatsagainst the inner face of ply 9, and the shoulder II is seated against the outer face of said ply, thus rigidly fixing the position of the terminal with respect to. ply- 9 I quite independently of ply 8 of the terminal head. Ply 8 thus merely constitutes a dielectric bearing surface for the moving. contactor (not no such surface is desired, thus leaving alone to constitute the terminal head.

The outer end of the barrel or jack receptacle ply 9 I0 is slightly constricted at It and this serves to retain within the receptacle the spring which is preferably made of some highly elastic conductive material such as phosphor bronze, and is preferably in the form of a split tube of horseshoe shape in cross, section. It has an arcuate' intermediate portion and tangential marginal convergent portions adapted to be spread or additionally separated by an inserted plug. The constricting marginal flange l8 of the receptacle Ill confines this spring somewhat loosely but the opening extending longitudinally through the of the plug 25 which is receivable therein. This plug is fixed at the end of the conductor or cable 26. It has a tapered portion 21 and an annular groove atfifl.

. The. introduction of the tapered portion 21 of the plug spreads the spring slightly, the spreading being particularly-necessary to enable the larger cross-section of the plug to pass a rib formed at 3B in the spring. As soon as the groove 28 'of the plug registers with the rib 30 of the spring, the tension o f the spring is soinewhat re-,

duced but is still maintained at a suflicient value u so that its side margins 23 and 24 will press the inner wall of the receptacle l0 and the curved intermediate portion of the spring will likewise be pressed into intimate contact with an opposite inner wall portion of the receptacle. -The plug will maintain a very good electrical arate-lines, at 3!, 32 and 33 respectively (Fig. 3). The engagement of the rib 30 ingroove. 28 will maintain the parts semi-positively against. separation, but the spring will be suiilciently yieldbe readily withdrawn when desired. In this 55 the conformation of the respective parts.. The

device is therefore extremely simple and inexpensive; it provides an excellent electrical connection; and what is particularly desirable for the purposes of the present invention, it projects directly rearwardly from the terminal head.

' In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the barrel or receptacle Hill has a shoulder at I I, justas above described. It also has the reduced extension at I! which projects through the terminal head 90. The metal is not, however, upset at either end, the upper margin I80 being the full diameter of the receptacle and the lower margin not being spun over or riveted as in Fig. 2.

In lieu thereof I may use a rivet, or. nut 35 and bolt 38 as a means of mounting the termi-' nal, securing the spring therein and providing the contact. The spring 200 corresponds to that already described in its general form, but it is provided at its bottom with an ear 3! which is turned inwardly at right angles to the axis of the receptacle and apertured to receive the bolt 38. The bolt 38 engages this ear and the nut 35 engages the inner face of terminal head 90, thus coacting with the shoulder II to clamp theterminal head and thus to fix-the terminal therein. The nut 36 is preferably made hemispherical to constitute a contact. This device is likewise very inexpensive as judged by existing terminal constructions and, like the construction flrst described above, it projects at right angles to the terminal head and is adapted to be easily mounted and to permit the cable plugs 25 to be snapped in and out with facility.

I claim: Y 1. In a device of the character described, the combination with a receptacle open at its end and a contact spring therein comprising a spring member having an arcuate intermediate portion and tangential convergent portions adapted to be spread by a member insertable between said tangential portions saidspring member having portions in contact with the interior of thereceptacle at difierent sides thereof, and means for securing said spring within said receptacle, said means comprising a restricting flange about the open end of the receptacle.

2. The combination with a tubular receptacle provided with an annular terminal head seat from which said receptacle projects substantially at right angles-said receptacle-being open at its free end, of a split sleeve within the receptacle and likewise open at itsends, said sleeve includ ing a curvilinear portion and sides disposed on minor chords of said receptacle with said sides provided with margins convergent'along tangential planes and interiorly engaged with the receptacle along lines parallel with its axis, and

means for retaining said spring sleeve within the receptacle, said sleeve being adapted for expansion under pressure of an inserted plug for increased pressure contact with the receptacle along said lines.

3. The combination with'a tubular receptacle provided with an annular terminal head seat from which said receptacle projects substantially at right angles, said receptacle being open atits free end, of a split sleeve within the receptacle and likewise open at its end, said sleeve sleeve nearest said seat and projectin including a curvilinear portion and sides'disposed on minor chords of said receptacle with the margins of said sides interiorly engaged with the' receptacle along planes tangential to the f curvilinear portion, and means for retaining said spring sleeve-within the receptacle, the curvilinear wall portion of the-sleeve having an inwardly projecting transversely extending rib, adapted to serve as a detent for a sleeve expanding plug.

4. The combination with a tubular receptacle provided with an annular terminalhead seat from which said receptacle projects substantially at right angles, said receptacle being open at its free end, of asplit sleeve within the receptacle and likewise open at itsend, said sleeve including a curvilinear portion and sides disposed on minor chords of said receptacle with the margins of said sides interiorly engaged with the receptacle along planes tangential to the curvilinear portion, and means for retaining said spring-sleeve within the receptacle, the curvilinear wall portion of the sleeve having an inwardly projecting transversely extending rib adapted to serve as a detent for a sleeve expanding plug, said sleeve' retaining means including an electrical contact connected with said recepat right angles, said receptacle being open at its free end, of a split sleeve within the receptacle and likewise open at its end, said sleeve includin a curvilinear portion and sides disposed on minor chords of said receptacle with the margins of said sides interiorly engaged with the receptacle along planes tangentialito the curvilinear por-- tion, and means for retaining said spring sleeve within the receptacle, the curvilinear wall portion of the sleeve having an inwardly projecting transversely extending rib adapted to serve as a detent for a sleeve expanding 'plug, said sleeve retaining means including an apertured ear on 9 said sleeve and a contact comprising means ex-i tending through said seat and engaged with said ear.

6. The combination with a tubular receptacle from which said receptacle projects substantially at right angles, said receptacle being open at its free end, of a split sleeve within the receptacle and likewise open at its ends, said sleeve including a curvilinear portion and sides disposed on minor chords of said receptacle with said sides provided with margins convergent along tangential planes" and interiorly engaged with the receptacie along lines parallel with its axis, and means for retaining said spring sleeve within the receptacle, said sleeve being adapted for expansion under pressure of an inserted plug for increased pressure contact with the receptacle along said lines, said sleeveaetainingmeans including anapertured ear on the end f said versely of said sleeve, together 'with a contact '.hav ing a shank portion extending through said seat and the aperture of said ear and provided with a head engaging said ear.

. 1 ROBERT K. WINNING.-

trans- 50 provided with an annular terminal head seat 

